Highland Wildlife Park highland wildlife park

Status
Not open for further replies.
I think bears were a big thing at the HWP when it first opened I guess they just dwindled down over the years, I think polar and brown bears used to be a big drawcard in the early years
 
HWP was opened in 1972 and was bought by RZSS in 1986.

These articles (from local press in July and September 2007) give more details on the new direction of the park:

Strathspey and Badenoch Herald: Snow monkeys start new park programme
Strathspey and Badenoch Herald: Army engineers prepare park for tigers' arrival

Interestingly it mentions a new £500,000 enclosure for Mercedes "and possible breeding partners" at HWP.

Also it seems they will eventually exhibit 3 species of big cat: Amur tiger, Amur leopard and snow leopard. Shaping up to be an interesting collection of big mammals.
 
What will happen to the Amur Tigers exhibit at Edinburgh? Did someone say Sumatrans?
I think it'd be great for clouded leopard, but you'd probably never see them in there.
 
An aviary for waldrapp ibis has been built next to the vistor centre, and the Amur tiger enclosure is nearing completion. I am heading up there w
within the next 2 weeks as well as to Edinburgh will report back.
www.highlandwildlifepark.org/news
 
Heading to the hwp tomorrow (thurs) will see what i can pick up, newswise and get some photos of the new aviary and new tiger enclosure.
 
chris, i'm putting my visit off till next week, there is bad weather forecast so will wait till next week. Will get u some photos though.
 
kiang,

Try to get an angle on the direction of the park in the next few years. Much interested to hear what they will make of a combined Amur tiger-leopard and snow leopard habitat. :cool:

Also the ungulate collection is shaping up to be some kind of wonderful with many rare and unusual species. I see visions of Nordens Ark in Sweden (ask sebbe!).

Cheers,

Jelle
 
jelle, that was my thought too regarding the comparison to nordens ark, have seen photos of the vast enclosures for snow leopard and amur leopard they look wonderful, i am looking forward to see the plans for the big cats, i know that pallas cats are in their plans too will be interested to see if they are included in the big cat project, plenty of cats available in Britain at the moment.
 
Got to the park today main news the imminent arrival of 2 male European lynx of the sub species (lynx lynx carpathicus) arriving from a european zoo, a new enclosure for Mishmi takin has been started, a kiang stallion is also due soon. The second group of Japanese macaque have arrived 11 in total to join the 11 in the exhibit. The chinese grey goral are in the former bharal enclosure and the bharal in turn now share with the Turkmenian markhor. Work has started on the Amur tiger enclosure with the building of the house work will start on the fencing in the new year. An aviary for waldrapp ibis has been built in front of the new red panda enclosure, the pandas have still to arrive. I have put photos of my visit in the gallery, and the park are still looking into acquiring musk oxen and no decision has been made about polar bears yet.
 
I really want to visit Highland Wildlife Park, but I might hold off till they get some more stuff finished and hopefully they'll have some Musk Ox.
What are the options if you don't have a car?
 
the park is very close to the village of kingussie a very famous place in the world of shinty, it has a train station and the A9 the main road between Inverness and Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth runs along the boundary of the park.
 
Ok, but don't you have to drive around the main reserve to see the bigger hooved animal? I guess I could always drive up, but it's a long way and'd probably be cheaper on train.
 
if you phone ahead they can make arrangements to take you round the main reserve in a jeep.
 
Saiga were being discussed in the Cologne zoo thread and it occurred to me that this would be an ideal species for the HWP - are there any plans to get any? I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to visit though as it's absolutely miles away...
 
In the short to medium term i doubt it very much there are simply no animals available in Europe, the only place i can think of that would have them in any numbers would be the Askanyia nova park in the Ukraine, and the logistics to import any would be enormous.
 
Britains only groups of Himalayan tahr and Afghan urial have recently arrived at the park as have new kiang and markhor to enlarge their respective groups.
A long awaited male European elk has also arrived to pair with the lonely female Lisa.
Mishmi takin have finally arrived from Edinburgh.
 
According to Animals on View by Anthony Smith, Saiga were kept at Highland Wildlife Park in 1977. Other species listed are

Red and Roe Deer
European Bison
Soay and St Kilda Sheep
Highland Cattle
Alpine Ibex
Scottish wild Cat
European Beaver
Wolf
European Lynx
Brown bear
Reindeer
Wild Goat
Wild Boar
Mountain Hare
Arctic and Red Fox
Pine Marten
Badger
Polecat
Red Squirrel
European Otter
Przewalski's Wild Horse
Capercaillie
Ptarmigan
Black and Red Grouse
Golden and White-tailed Eagle
European Eagle and Snowy Owl
Buzzard
Common crane
Highland Cattle (apparently the most asked for exhibit)

It was also claimed that wild ospreys were nesting in the park
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top